Community Branding with DCI
On episode #58 of the Building BN podcast, BNEDC Community Marketing Manager, Whitney Chesher sits down to speak with Sarah Reinecke, Account Director, and Allie Maniglia, Senior Account Executive, Development Counsellors International (DCI). Reinecke and Maniglia were part of the community branding team hired on behalf of the BNEDC to help tell the story of Bloomington-Normal and all it has to offer.
DCI, from their website, are experts in marketing places and the leader in travel marketing and economic development marketing, increasing visitors and business inquiries for destinations around the globe. Reinecke has been with DCI for over nine years and specializes in all things marketing, from branding to key messages, to storytelling, to public relations, to research. She explains, “We do it all when it comes to economic development and talent, attraction, marketing, and just promoting places as great places to live and to work.” Maniglia has been with DCI for over a year. She focuses on talent attraction and brand marketing projects. Prior to joining DCI, Maniglia worked in the nonprofit world in Washington, D.C., specifically in higher education and economic development.
Reinecke and Maniglia were recently in Bloomington-Normal for an immersion tour, which was a chance for both to get to know the area, the people, and the strengths of the community. This background aided them in the process of creating new community branding. They had an opportunity to tour the area and meet with focus groups to gather opinions from a wide variety of people. Maniglia explains, “We really heard that you don't necessarily have to have kids or to be a student to enjoy life here. It's an accommodating place, regardless of your lifestyle, which is such a special thing. We heard the strength of the community was really the welcoming community. And everything we heard, it was just, I didn't know people were this nice. I didn't know people would lend a hand like this. Just such a nice, welcoming, and supportive community.”
Listen to the entire podcast here, which includes a story about how a job with a boy-band led to a career in destination marketing, a behind-the-scenes look at the process of community branding, and more about their impressions of the local community.
